Freelands Award 2026

We’re thrilled to announce we’re one of three UK organisations who have received a Freelands Award 2026 from Freelands Foundation. 

The Freelands Awards are created by Freelands Foundation to celebrate and showcase visual art organisations’ commitment to art education.

The winners of the Freelands Awards 2026 are: 

  • SIGNAL, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria for its Artist Development Lab developing artists through workshops, expert mentoring and exhibition making

  • The Burton at Bideford in North Devon, for Burton Futures, an outreach programme for schools including The Burton Art Box, a horse box converted into a camera obscura and darkroom that travels to rural schools

  • Wolverhampton Art Gallery for two stand-out projects of its Arts and Culture Youth Programme inspired by the collection and temporary exhibitions in which participants work with the gallery team to help build skills and careers in the creative industries

We were selected for our Artist Development Lab, which is part of a wider programme to deliver high quality, inclusive creative learning opportunities that promote and advance education in the arts in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and the Northwest. Participants in the Lab benefited from a supportive, flexible structure and tailored mentoring by experts in skills development sessions and a group exhibition in Signal’s gallery in December 2025. The programme has had success in providing greater access to art, in particular for underrepresented working-class artists and as a platform for wider artist development. 

SIGNAL’s Co-Directors Loren Slater and Kerry Kolbe said:

“To win one of the Freelands Awards 2026 is the most exciting moment in our journey so far and an unparalleled endorsement of our work, coming as it does from such a prominent, committed and passionate champion of the arts. Our Artist Development Lab has enabled many people, in a region with multiple social and geographical challenges, to believe that a career as an artist is possible. This Award will give us the confidence to continue championing the importance of the arts in everybody’s lives, and to move our programme forward at a time when funding is more stretched than ever.”

Plain Sight, Exhibition

To celebrate with us you’re invited to a preview of Plain Sight. The exhibition features works by award winning artists and Lab mentors, Jack Brown, Felicity Hammond & Mishka Henner and coincides with the beginning of a new cohort of emerging artists for our 2026 Lab. 

Plain Sight explores our relationships with the environments we inhabit. Moving from local perspectives to global realities, the works question how environments impact our daily lives and confronts the forces that remain outside of our control.

Join the conversation through a series of workshops, talks, and community events this Autumn.

Find out more

Signal Artist Development Lab 2026

If you want to know more about our next Artist Development Lab for 2026

All art forms welcome, but we’re particularly looking for those using or interested in expanding their use of digital, photography, & film and/or have an interest in exploring socially engaged practice, participatory practice and collaboration. DEADLINE 18th September 2026.

Find out more & apply here!

About Freelands Foundation

Freelands Foundation champions art education.

At Freelands Foundation, we believe in the intrinsic value of art and that making is

fundamental. Our vision is to increase the status of art education, enable equality of

access and promote material literacy.

 

We support this important work in formal education settings, in galleries and art

organisations, and by learning through artistic practice. Our charitable programme

provides vital funding through grants, awards, fellowships and residencies, while we

commission innovative action research to inform our future support and to help make

progress across the sector.

 

At our new home in Errol Street, London, as well as online at Freelands Foundation,

we host lively discussions, workshops and events for teachers, artists, gallery and art

professionals, as well as growing a library of inspiring art education resources.